Review of senior syllabuses

The QSA began a review of senior syllabuses in 2005 to support the introduction of the Queensland Certificate of Education.

The review assessed the scope, range and relevance of the senior syllabuses and recommended the form that syllabuses should take in the future. The review was chaired by Professor John Dewar, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at Griffith University.

Review process

The review involved broad consultation with education and community stakeholders, and commissioned research papers. Key issues were identified in Phase 1 and a consultation paper prepared. Feedback on this paper was sought. During Phase 2, a syllabus framework blueprint was developed for further consultation.

Review documents

• Consultation paper, October 2005 (PDF, 198.1 KB)
• Proposed blueprint for the future development of syllabuses, July 2006 (PDF, 619.2 KB)

Consultation reports

• Initial targeted consultations report, August to September 2005 (PDF, 107.0 KB)
  Report to determine issues relevant to the review.
• Consultation report, October 2005 to February 2006 (PDF, 87.1 KB)
  Report on five key issues: valued knowledge and skills; structure of QSA syllabuses and syllabus design; pathways and the suite of syllabuses; Year 10 and ongoing review.
• Consultation report, July 2006 to December 2006 (PDF, 235.4 KB)
  Report on the "Proposed blueprint for the future development of syllabuses" and "A snapshot of the proposed blueprint", which were released by the QSA for public consultation in July 2006.

Review research

• External Perspective on the Queensland Studies Authority Syllabuses for Years 11 and 12 (PDF, 116.0 KB)
  Analysis focusing on subject syllabuses, structured around questions-of-interest provided by the QCAA syllabus review team. Comments on ways that subject areas might be looked at more critically. (David T. Conley, September 2005)
• An analysis of the current suite of QSA Years 11 and 12 syllabuses (PDF, 362.0 KB)
  Investigates how well syllabuses prepare students for university, vocational education or the workplace by analysing the generic skills and attributes emphasised in the syllabus documents. (Rob Gilbert and Hilary Macleod, December 2005)
• 'Obedience, learning, virtue and arithmetic': Knowledge, skill and disposition in the organisation of senior schooling (PDF, 150.1 KB)
  Aims to inform discussion about the content and organisation of senior syllabuses. Outlines the functions of schooling and general syllabus attributes and illustrates how local settings impact on syllabus development. (Peter Freebody, January 2006)
• Implications for moderation of proposed changes to senior secondary school syllabuses (PDF, 152.7 KB)
  Provides an overview of Queensland's quality assurance processes and describes how syllabus changes might impact the moderation system. The analysis is based on the draft syllabus design as at January 2007. (Graham Maxwell, July 2007)
• Timetabling and other practical ideas (PDF, 317.0 KB)
  Describes flexible, innovative and practical solutions to deliver learning in schools and the implications of implementing such opportunities in the senior phase. The ideas are based on the draft syllabus design as at May 2007. (Mike Middleton, July 2007)
• Year 10 — The next generation: An exploration of the possible conceptual positioning of Year 10 curriculum within a P–12 framework (PDF, 328.9 KB)
  Offers insights into some broad considerations and priorities for a Year 10 curriculum, and addresses structural or organisational implications arising from the proposed configurations. (Jennifer Nayler and J.E. Tunstall, August 2007)

Colloquium presentations

The syllabus review colloquium — A proposed blueprint for the future development of syllabuses: fields of learning and study patterns — was held in Brisbane on 21 November 2006.

The following audio files are provided in mp3 format. To download for later listening, right-click on a link and select "Save Target/Link As...".

• Opening (14 min 21 sec) (MP3, 3.3 MB)
  Outlines the reason for the review and its scope. (Kim Bannikoff, Director, QCAA)
• Keynote address: From the tree of knowledge to fields of learning
  Challenges the philosophical basis for decisions about what constitutes "worthwhile knowledge" and outlines 6 values for curriculum design. Argues for curriculum that includes disciplines, disciplinarity and transdisiplinary or Mode 2 Knowledge Production. (David Hogan, Singapore National Institute of Education)
• Keynote address: You say you want a (r)evolution
  Traces the process of the syllabus review. (John Dewar, Griffith University)
• Keynote address: Subjects and disciplines: revisiting an Australian theory of curriculum and development
  Discusses issues of curriculum and equity, including the characteristics of high equity/high quality education systems. Observes that inclusive education begins with a vision of a fair society and ends with gaining access to it. (Allan Luke, Queensland University of Technology)
• Concluding comments (17 min 9 sec) (MP3, 3.9 MB)
  Draws together the main themes raised during the colloquium. (David Hogan, Singapore National Institute of Education)

Keynote addresses

From the tree of knowledge to fields of learning

(Professor David Hogan, Dean, Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice National Institute of Education, Singapore)

You say you want a (r)evolution

(Professor John Dewar, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Griffith University Chair, Syllabus Review Reference Group)

Subjects and disciplines: revisiting an Australian theory of curriculum and development

(Professor Allan Luke, Centre for Learning Innovation, Queensland University of Technology)